Holick

Commenting on the study, Dr. Michael Holick, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University School of Medicine, said a lot of sun exposure early in life increases the risk for non-melanoma skin cancer, but may actually lower the risk of developing melanoma.

Vitamin D, calcium combo may halve melanoma risk some women 2011

Holick said he thinks the finding would be the same for men and other groups.

Vitamin D, calcium combo may halve melanoma risk some women 2011

Holick endorses "sensible, limited sun exposure" but says it's also time to recommend that everyone, regardless of skin color, take a daily vitamin D supplement of at least 1,000 international units (IU).

Your Health: Skin color matters in the vitamin D debate 2009

Fatty fish and fortified dairy products are two dietary sources of vitamin D.Holick said he recommends that children take 1,000 IU of vitamin D a day and adults, 2,000 IU.

Vitamin D, calcium combo may halve melanoma risk some women 2011

Being exposed to sunlight, making some vitamin D may very well be protective of melanoma, Holick said.

Vitamin D, calcium combo may halve melanoma risk some women 2011

Though someone in Boston with pale skin can get adequate vitamin D by exposing their arms and legs to the sun for 10 to 15 minutes twice a week in the summer, someone with the darkest skin might need two hours of exposure each time, Holick says.

Your Health: Skin color matters in the vitamin D debate 2009

Boston University professor Michael Holick, a leading vitamin D researcher, says yes: "We think it's why African Americans develop more prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer and get more aggressive forms of those cancers."

Your Health: Skin color matters in the vitamin D debate 2009

What role calcium may play is unknown, Holick said.

Vitamin D, calcium combo may halve melanoma risk some women 2011

A review of vitamin D medical literature published last July in The New England Journal of Medicine by Michael Holick, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University Medical School and director of the Bone Health Care Clinic there, indicated that numerous studies are showing vitamin D does much more than boost bone health in children and adults.

Lack of vitamin D rampant in infants, teens 2008

Sunlight, diet — particularly oily fish and enriched milk — and supplements are good sources of vitamin D, Holick says.

Lack of vitamin D rampant in infants, teens 2008